Retainer and a retainer and nut assembly

ABSTRACT

A retainer comprises first and second legs extending away from a base wall. In one embodiment, the first leg includes a dimple array surrounding an aperture and projecting from an inboard surface of the first leg. In another embodiment, the first leg has a necked portion having a set of first shoulders extending away from a first base, and a first apertured portion extending away from the set of first shoulders. The second leg has a necked and stepped portion having a step extending away from a second base, and a shouldered portion extending away from the step and having a set of second shoulders extending laterally outwardly, and a second apertured portion extending away from the second shoulders. The retainer of either embodiment may be coupled to a nut to produce a retainer and nut assembly.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to fasteners and, more particularly,to retainers and retainer and nut assemblies.

BACKGROUND

Retainer and nut assemblies typically include a retainer and a nutassembled to the retainer. The retainer usually includes a base wall ata rearward portion of the retainer and first and second legs havingfixed ends at the base wall and extending away from the base wall andterminating in free ends at a forward portion of the retainer. The firstleg is generally planar along its length, and has a short tab extendingaway from an inboard surface of the first leg for locating the retainerwith respect to a hole of a panel to be inserted between the legs, andalso has a first apertured portion with a first aperture to accommodatepassage of a threaded fastener. The second leg is generally planar alongits length, and has downturned flanges at the free end, and also has asecond apertured portion with a second aperture to accommodate passageof the threaded fastener into the nut. The nut is coupled to the secondleg of the retainer at the second aperture. An example of such aretainer and nut assembly is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,688,825.Although such products are commercially satisfactory, their designsconstrain the rate at which they can be produced, sometimes lead topremature failure of bending tooling, may require a relatively highinstallation force to install on a panel, and/or may not alwayssufficiently center a retainer with respect to a panel aperture.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a retainer includes firstand second legs extending away from a base wall, wherein, the first leghas a first apertured portion including an aperture through the firstleg and a dimple array projecting from an inboard surface of the firstleg, surrounding the aperture, and including at least threecircumferentially spaced dimples, and the second leg has a secondapertured portion corresponding to the first apertured portion of thefirst leg. The retainer may be coupled to a nut to produce a retainerand nut assembly.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a retainer comprises abase wall, and first and second legs extending away from the base wall.The first leg has a necked portion extending away from the base wall andhaving a first base and a set of first shoulders extending away from thefirst base, and a first apertured portion extending away from the set offirst shoulders of the necked portion. The second leg has a necked andstepped portion extending away from the base wall and having a secondbase, a step extending away from the second base, and a shoulderedportion extending away from the step and having a set of secondshoulders extending laterally outwardly, and a second apertured portionextending away from the set of second shoulders. The retainer may becoupled to a nut to produce a retainer and nut assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of a retainer and nut assembly accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure, and including a retainer anda square nut coupled to the retainer;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the assembly of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 illustrates a rear end view of the assembly of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 illustrates a front end view of the assembly of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5 illustrates a bottom view of the assembly of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 6 illustrates an upper perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 1 ;

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate alternate side views of the assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 illustrates a retainer and nut assembly according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure, and including a retainer having aslotted base wall;

FIG. 10 illustrates a top view of a retainer and nut assembly accordingto another embodiment of the present disclosure, and including a roundnut;

FIG. 11 illustrates a side view of the assembly of FIG. 10 ;

FIG. 12 illustrates an enlarged bottom view of the nut of FIG. 10 ;

FIG. 13 illustrates a specification diagram for the retainer and nutassembly of the present disclosure;

FIG. 14 illustrates a top view of a retainer and nut assembly accordingto a further embodiment of the present disclosure, and including aretainer having first leg with a dimple array projecting from an inboardsurface of the first leg;

FIG. 15 illustrates a side view of the assembly of FIG. 14 ;

FIG. 16 illustrates an enlarged front view of the assembly of FIG. 14 ;

FIG. 17 illustrates a bottom view of the assembly of FIG. 14 ;

FIG. 18 illustrates a lower perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 14;

FIG. 19 illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional view of the assembly ofFIG. 14 , taken along line 19-19 of FIG. 18 ;

FIG. 20 illustrates a side view of a retainer and nut assembly accordingto an additional embodiment of the present disclosure, and including aretainer having a first leg with a ring projecting from an outboardsurface of the first leg and a dimple array surrounding the ring andprojecting from an inboard surface of the first leg;

FIG. 21 illustrates an enlarged front view of the assembly of FIG. 20 ;

FIG. 22 illustrates a bottom view of the assembly of FIG. 20 ;

FIG. 23 illustrates a lower perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 20;

FIG. 24 illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional view of the assembly ofFIG. 20 , taken along line 24-24 of FIG. 23 ; and

FIG. 25 illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional view of the assembly ofFIG. 20 , taken along line 25-25 of FIG. 22 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With general reference to the accompanying drawings, a retainer and aretainer and nut assembly are described below. The design of theseproducts may facilitate a faster production rate thereof, promote longerlife of bending tooling, provide a reduced installation force to installthe products to a panel, and/or reliably center a retainer with respectto a panel aperture.

With reference to FIGS. 1 through 4 , a retainer and nut assembly 10includes a retainer 12 and a nut 14 assembled to the retainer 12.

The nut 14 may be staked, fastened, welded, brazed, adhered, or coupledto the retainer 12 in any other manner suitable for producing retainerand nut assemblies. The nut 14 may be composed of metal, for instance,steel, more specifically, SAE 1035 steel heat-treated to achievepublished property class 10 performance standards. The nut 14 may be asquare nut, as illustrated, or may be of round, or any other shapesuitable for use with retainer and nut assemblies.

The retainer 12 may be composed of metal, for instance, stainless steel,and may be cold-rolled martensitic steel having a zinc nickel platingand having a thickness of, for example, 0.6 mm to 0.8 mm including allranges, sub-ranges, endpoints, and values in that range.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 , the retainer 12 includes retainer axesincluding a longitudinal axis A, a lateral axis B perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis A, a transverse axis C transverse to and rearwardlyoffset from the longitudinal and lateral axes A, B, and a fastening axisX perpendicular to and intersecting the longitudinal and lateral axes A,B. The retainer 12 also includes a base wall 16 at a rearward portion ofthe retainer 12 and extending along the transverse axis C. The retainer12 further includes first and second legs 18 (FIG. 2 ), 20 extendingalong the longitudinal axis A away from the base wall 16 and terminatingat a forward portion of the retainer 12. The base wall 16 and the secondleg 20 may be aperture, for example, to include an aperture 17overlapping corresponding portions of the base wall 16 and the secondleg 20.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 5 , the first leg 18 includes a firstfixed end 22 at a lower end of the base wall 16, a first free end 24distal the first fixed end 22, and a necked portion 26 extending awayfrom the first fixed end 22. The necked portion 26 includes a first base28 extending away from the first fixed end 22 and having straightlateral sides 30, and a set of first shoulders 32 extending away fromthe first base 28. The first shoulders 32 may be straight-tapered, forexample, extending at an angle a between forty and fifty degreesincluding all ranges, sub-ranges, endpoints, and values in that range.The first leg 18 also includes a first apertured portion 34 extending ina direction away from the first shoulders 32 of the necked portion 26toward the first free end 24, and being coplanar with the necked portion26.

The first apertured portion 34 includes a first outboard surface 36, afirst inboard surface 38, first laterally opposite sides 40 a, 40 b thatmay be straight and extending between the first outboard and inboardsurfaces 36, 38, and a first aperture 42 being disposed between thefirst laterally opposite sides 40 a, 40 b and the first outboard andinboard surfaces 36, 38. The first aperture 42 may have a truncatedteardrop shape with a teardrop-shaped portion 44 and a truncated portion46 between the teardrop-shaped portion 44 and the first free end 24. Thefirst apertured portion 34 also may include a hinged tab 48 having ahinged portion 50 connected to the truncated portion 46 of the firstaperture 42, and a body 52 extending from the hinged portion 50 in arearward direction and toward at least one of the base wall 16 or thesecond leg 20 over a distance that is more than half way across a spacebetween apertured portions of the first and second legs 18, 20 andterminating in a free end 54 with a projection 56 extending back towardthe first leg 18. The first apertured portion 34 further may include atab or tang 58 terminating in the first free end 24.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 , the second leg 20 includes a secondfixed end 60 at an upper end of the base wall 16, a second free end 62distal the second fixed end 60, and a necked and stepped portion 64including a second base 66 extending away from the second fixed end 60toward the second free end 62. The second base 66 may be planar, and mayhave straight lateral sides 67. The necked and stepped portion 64 alsomay include a step 68 extending away from the second base 66 in aforward direction and toward the first leg 18. The step 68 may havestraight lateral sides 69, and may be straight-angled at an angle bbetween forty and fifty degrees including all ranges, sub-ranges,endpoints, and values in that range. The necked and stepped portion 64further may include a shouldered portion 70 extending away from the step68 and having a set of second shoulders 72 extending laterallyoutwardly. The shoulders 72 may be straight-tapered at an angle cbetween forty and fifty degrees including all ranges, sub-ranges,endpoints, and values in that range. The second leg 20 also may includea second apertured portion 74 extending away from the second shoulders72 and toward the second free end 62.

The second apertured portion 74 may have a second outboard surface 76, asecond inboard surface 78 facing the first inboard surface 38 of thefirst leg 18, second laterally opposite sides 80 a, 80 b that may bestraight and extending between the second outboard and inboard surfaces76, 78, and a second aperture 82 being disposed between the secondlaterally opposite sides 80 and the second outboard and inboard surfaces76, 78. The second aperture 82 may be round or of any other shapesuitable for coupling to a nut. The second inboard surface 78 may havean indented portion 84.

The nut 14 may be coupled to the second leg 20 of the retainer 12 at thesecond aperture 82 and cooperating with the indented portion 84 tocouple the retainer 12 to the nut 14. In one example, the indentedportion 84 may be part of the second apertured portion 74 that has beenstaked, pressed, or otherwise formed to a corresponding portion of thenut 14. In any case, the surface 78 may be planar such that thenut-to-retainer connection does not project beyond the surface 78 andinto the space between the legs 18, 20 to allow for smooth insertionover a panel (not shown).

The second leg 20 also may have a flange 86 extending away from thesecond apertured portion 74 in an outboard direction. The flange 86 isangled with respect to the second apertured portion 74 at an anglebetween fifty-five and sixty degrees including all ranges, sub-ranges,endpoints, and values in that range. The flange 86 may have a tab ortang 88 that terminates in the second free end 62.

With reference to FIG. 6 , the tangs 58, 88 may facilitate separation ofa series of retainer blanks from a strip of metal. The tangs 58, 88 maybe rectangular and have a width that is less than the overall width ofthe retainer 12, but greater than or equal to a minimum width necessaryto connect serial retainer blanks without bending/buckling of the stripwhen the strip is advanced through a forming machine. Preferably, thewidth of each tang 58, 88 is less than the width of the base wall 16 ofthe retainer 12. The length of the tangs 58, 88 may be 0.015″ to 0.045″including all ranges, sub-ranges, endpoints, and values in that range.The tangs 58, 88 enable a clean cutoff of each retainer 12 from itsneighboring retainer in the metal strip, yet allow some variation in cutlocation from part to part. Also, locating the cutoffs across thenarrower tangs 58, 88, instead of across the entire width of the metalstrip from which the retainers 12 are formed, facilitates breaking sharpedges/corners using a radius or angle cut. To carry out the radius orangle cut without the tangs 58, 88 would require cutoff scrap where noseand tail are of differing shapes. Thus, the tang design allows for asimple scrapless cutoff for reduction of material waste.

With reference to FIG. 7 , the retainer 12 may be humpbacked. Ingeneral, a distance between the legs 18, 20 at a rearward portion of theretainer 12 may be significantly greater than a distance between thelegs 18, 20 at a forward portion of the retainer 12, wherein thedistances are measured parallel to the fastening axis X. Morespecifically, a distance D₁ between the first and second bases 28, 66may be significantly greater than a distance D₂ between the first andsecond apertured portions 34, 74, wherein the distances D₁, D₂ aremeasured parallel to the fastening axis X. The humpbacked designfacilitates use of a center form tool T, over which the retainer 12 isbent into shape, that is larger than it would otherwise be without thehumpback. The larger center form tool T may be helpful in providingadditional mass and size that may be useful in withstanding high forcesapplied in bending the retainer 12 into shape from flat stock.Accordingly, useful life of the center form tool T may be extended.

The humpback design, being more square and less oblong compared to priorart designs, provides a useful feature. The more square-like base wall16 can be pushed onto a panel (not shown) until an inboard surface ofthe base wall 16 fully contacts a panel edge (not shown). This allowsfor very quick and consistent installation of the assembly 10. The moreoblong-shaped base wall of prior art retainers may not engage a paneledge squarely and securely, because the panel edge may engage at variouspoints of contact along radii of bends between the base wall and thelegs. The more square-like base wall 16 of the present disclosureprovides a large, strong and solid contact patch against a panel edgefor greater resistance to retainer assembly twist failure duringassembly operations. Again, the prior art oblong base wall tends to beinferior in that all the assembly forces are localized because the partsengage only at point of contact along the radii, thereby leaving theoblong base wall more likely to be damaged, twisted, deformed, orfractured during assembly rundown.

With reference to FIG. 8 , a distance D₃ between an uppermost or inboardsurface 52 a of the hinged tab 48 of the first leg 18 and a lowermost orinboard surface 78 of the apertured portion 74 of the second leg 20 maybe less than a minimum thickness of a panel (not shown) to which theretainer 12 is to be coupled. Likewise, a distance D₄ between alowermost or outboard surface 56 a of the projection 56 of the hingedtab 48 and an uppermost or inboard surface 38 of the apertured portion34 of the first leg 18 may be less than a minimum thickness of a panel(not shown) to which the retainer 12 is to be coupled. The distances D₃,D₄ are measured parallel to the fastening axis X.

FIG. 9 shows another illustrative embodiment of a retainer and nutassembly 10′. This embodiment is similar in many respects to theembodiment of FIGS. 1 through 8 and like numerals between theembodiments generally designate like or corresponding elementsthroughout the several views of the drawing figures. Accordingly, thedescriptions of the embodiments are hereby incorporated into oneanother, and description of subject matter common to the embodimentsgenerally may not be repeated.

With reference to FIG. 9 , the assembly 10′ includes a retainer 12′including a base wall 16′ having one or more slots 17′. Each slot 17′may extend lengthwise in a general direction from one end of the basewall 16′ to another. The slots 17′ may extend from a first leg 18′ to asecond leg 20′ through bends or fixed ends 22′, 60′ of the legs 18′,20′, as illustrated. In other embodiments, the slots 17′ may extendthrough one or the other of the two bends 22′, 60′, and/or notnecessarily over the entire height of the base wall 16′. In still otherembodiments, each slot 17′ need not be continuous and may be interruptedover its length. Each slot 17′ may have a width, and a height/lengththat is greater than the width. The width of any given individual slot17′ may be between 0.050″ and 0.150″ including all ranges, sub-ranges,endpoints, and values in that range. More specifically, the width of anygiven individual slot 17′ may be between 0.060″ and 0.125″ including allranges, sub-ranges, endpoints, and values in that range. Similarly, thewidth of any given solid portion of the base wall 16′ between the slots17′ may be between 0.060″ and 0.125″. The collective width of the slots17′ may be between 25% and 75% (including all ranges, sub-ranges,endpoints, and values in that range) relative to the total width of thebase wall 16′.

The slots 17′ may provide a comb-like base wall 16′. In one example, insome embodiments, the slots 17′ may be arranged to be of the samelength, same longitudinal position, same width, and/or same lateralspacing. In another example, in other embodiments, the slots 17′ may bearranged to be of different lengths, different longitudinal positions,different widths, and/or different lateral spacing.

The comb-like configuration of the base wall 16′ may help uniformlydistribute forming/bending forces across a center form tool and lowerforces needed to form the part generally. More specifically, the slots17′ may be useful in reducing the forces required to bend the retainer12′ into shape over a center forming tool, particularly when theretainer 12′ is composed of preheat-treated steel (e.g., M130, M160,etc.). Also, the slotted base wall 16′ may act as an anti-rotationfeature when a bolt (not shown) is threaded into the nut 14, wherein asfastening forces build up, the slots 17′ close up to increase twistresistance without having to increase part weight. Additionally, theslots 17′ may result in lower installation forces used to install theassembly 10′ to a panel (not shown) by allowing flexure of the retainer12′. Furthermore, the slots 17′ may be more ergonomically correct than asingle large rectangular aperture. One example of such an ergonomicbenefit regarding the comb-like cut out structure is that the assembly10′ may be installed to a panel even with oily or greasy fingers ofsomeone who is installing the assembly 10′ to the panel. This is becausethe narrow slots 17′ provide a good traction surface, and excess oil orgrease from an installer's fingers is given an escape path through theslots 17′, assuring that the oil/grease will not become trapped betweenthe assembly 10′ and the installer's finger and, thus, will not lead toslippage between the installer's finger and the assembly 10′.

FIGS. 10 through 12 show another illustrative embodiment of a retainerand nut assembly 110. This embodiment is similar in many respects to theembodiment of FIGS. 1 through 9 and like numerals between theembodiments generally designate like or corresponding elementsthroughout the several views of the drawing figures. Accordingly, thedescriptions of the embodiments are hereby incorporated into oneanother, and description of subject matter common to the embodimentsgenerally may not be repeated.

With reference to FIGS. 10 through 12 , a retainer and nut assembly 110includes a round nut 114 that may include a collar 116, a free end boss118 extending from the collar 116, and a fixed end boss 120 extendingfrom the collar 116 in a direction opposite that of the free end boss118. The nut 114 also may include a circumferentially extending recessor channel 122 in an undersurface of the collar 116 to accept theindented portion 84 of the retainer 12 when the retainer 12 is staked tothe nut 114, and radially extending ribs 124 in the channel 122 tocooperate with the indented portion 84 of the retainer 12 to resistrotation of the nut 114 with respect to the retainer 12.

The nut 14, 114 whether square or round, may be a low-profile,self-piercing nut that is easily automated for faster nut deliveryspeeds into a production die. Such nuts need only be oriented to preventan upside-down condition and are not prone to tipping over inside anorientation section of an automation system. Such nut styles do notrequire the complicated orientation automation that hexagonal flangenuts do. The nut 14, 114 is attached by packing corresponding retainermaterial from the indented portion 84 into the recess or channel 122 onthe bottom of the nut 14, 114 and flaring out the tubular collar 116 ofthe nut 14, 114 for retention of the nut 14, 114 to the retainermaterial. This flared collar attachment can be applied much faster andwith a much shorter machine stroke than shaved metal staking along thelength of a hexagonal flange nut's hexagonal corners. The short flaredcollar attachment and low profile of the nut 14, 114 allows for minimalstrip lift in a production die. A top leading edge of the low-profilenut 14, 114 presents a smooth flat chamfered edge that is easier to pushthrough the production tooling very quickly without catching andbuckling the part strip. The low strip lift and smooth chamfered nutedge allows production of the assembly 10 at much faster speeds than ahexagonal flange nut.

Notably, the presently disclosed retainer 12 need not include anapertured base wall 16, or, more specifically, the illustrated aperture17 overlapping portions of the base wall 16 and the second leg 18. Alsonotably, the presently disclosed retainer 12 need not include adownturned flange, more specifically, the second leg 20 of the retainer12 need not include any downturned flange(s) at the free end thereofand/or at lateral sides thereof.

FIG. 13 illustrates a specification diagram including short and longversions 210, 310 of a retainer and nut assembly with various relevantdimensions in millimeters. The present disclosure includes a tolerancerange around feature dimensions of plus or minus ten percent includingall ranges, sub-ranges, endpoints, and values in that tolerance range.

The present disclosure includes any and all ratios or proportionsbetween dimensions of any and all features of the disclosed retainer andnut assemblies 10, 10′, 110, 210, 310. For example, the presentdisclosure includes F/D, F/L, D/E, and any other ratios or proportions.Likewise, the present disclosure includes a tolerance range around suchratios or proportions of plus or minus ten percent including all ranges,sub-ranges, endpoints, and values in that tolerance range.

A ratio between the height F of the base wall to the width D of the basewall may be between 0.62 and 0.92 including all ranges, sub-ranges,endpoints, and values in that range.

A ratio between the height F of the base wall and a height L of a spacebetween the apertured portions of the legs may be between 1.4 and 2.0including all ranges, sub-ranges, endpoints, and values in that range.

A ratio between the width D of the base wall and the width E of the freeends of the legs may be between 0.5 and 1.2 including all ranges,sub-ranges, endpoints, and values in that range.

FIGS. 14 through 19 show another illustrative embodiment of a retainerand nut assembly 410. This embodiment is similar in many respects to theembodiment of FIGS. 1 through 13 and like numerals between theembodiments generally designate like or corresponding elementsthroughout the several views of the drawing figures. Accordingly, thedescriptions of the embodiments are hereby incorporated into oneanother, and description of subject matter common to the embodimentsgenerally may not be repeated.

With reference to FIGS. 14 through 16 , the retainer and nut assembly410 includes a retainer 412 and the nut 14 assembled to the retainer412. The retainer includes a base wall 416, and first and second legs418, 420 extending away from the base wall 416.

With reference to FIGS. 15 and 16 , the first leg 418 includes a firstapertured portion 434 including a first outboard surface 436, a firstinboard surface 438 (FIG. 15 ), and a first aperture 442 (FIG. 16 )being disposed between the first outboard and inboard surfaces 436, 438.The first apertured portion 434 also includes a dimple array including aplurality of dimples 451 projecting from the inboard surface 438 of thefirst leg 418, surrounding the first aperture 442. The dimple arrayincludes at least three dimples 451 and, as illustrated, may includefour dimples 451. The dimples 451 may be equidistantly circumferentiallyspaced apart from one another. Also, two of the illustrated four dimples451 may be disposed on one side of the longitudinal axis A (FIG. 14 )and the other two of the four dimples 451 may be disposed on anotherside of the longitudinal axis A, such that the longitudinal axis A doesnot intersect any one dimple. Likewise, two of the four dimples 451 maybe disposed on one side of the lateral axis B (FIG. 14 ) and the othertwo of the four dimples 451 may be disposed on another side of thelateral axis B, such that the lateral axis B does not intersect any onedimple.

The dimples 451 may terminate in free ends 454. The free end 454 of atleast one of the dimples 451 may contact a corresponding portion of aninboard surface 478 of the second leg 420. Accordingly, as illustratedin FIG. 15 , an angle between the base wall 416 and the first leg 418may be acute, i.e., less than ninety degrees, for example, between 85and 89.9 degrees including all ranges, sub-ranges, endpoints, and valuesin that range.

With reference to FIGS. 17 through 19 , the dimples 451 may beshell-shaped. More specifically, the dimples 451 may bequarter-spherical-shaped. For example, the dimples 451 may be formedwith a dimple punch and die in a forming machine. Accordingly, thedimples 451 may be projections displaced from the first leg 418. In anycase, the dimples 451 may include rounded bodies 452 of curvate shape,with excurvate inboard surfaces 452 a (FIG. 19 ) facing radiallyinwardly, corresponding incurvate outboard surfaces 452 b (FIG. 19 )facing radially outwardly, and faces 453 facing radially outwardly.

The dimples 451 provide reliable assembling, centering, and locating ofthe retainer 412 with respect to a corresponding aperture in a panel towhich the retainer 412 is to be coupled. In particular, the rounded orexcurvate shape of the bodies 452 of the dimples 451 help to introducethe dimples 451 within the corresponding panel aperture as the retainer412 is being assembled to the panel, and help keep the dimples 451centered within the panel aperture for maintaining good location of theretainer 412 with respect to the panel.

FIGS. 20 through 25 show another illustrative embodiment of a retainerand nut assembly 510. This embodiment is similar in many respects to theembodiment of FIGS. 1 through 19 and like numerals between theembodiments generally designate like or corresponding elementsthroughout the several views of the drawing figures. Accordingly, thedescriptions of the embodiments are hereby incorporated into oneanother, and description of subject matter common to the embodimentsgenerally may not be repeated.

With reference to FIGS. 20 and 21 , the retainer and nut assembly 510includes a retainer 512 and the nut 14 assembled to the retainer 512.The retainer includes a base wall 516, and first and second legs 518,520 extending away from the base wall 516. With additional reference toFIG. 22 , the first leg 518 includes an apertured portion 534 includinga dimple array projecting from an inboard surface of the first leg 518with a plurality of dimples 551, and a ring 590 projecting in anoutboard direction away from an outboard surface 536 of the aperturedportion 534. The ring 590 may have a length that is several timesgreater than the wall thickness of the apertured portion 534 of thefirst leg 518.

With reference to FIG. 22 , because the long ring 590 may render itdifficult to produce the dimples 551, the apertured portion 534 alsoincludes a cutout array corresponding to the dimple array, and includinga plurality of cutouts 592 corresponding to the plurality of dimples551. In one example, the cutouts 592 may be may be formed with a cutoutpunch and die in a forming machine and, once the cutouts 592 are formed,then the dimples 551 may be formed with a dimple punch and die in theforming machine.

With reference to FIGS. 23 through 25 , the dimples 551 may be producedusing material from the first leg 518 located radially between radiallyinner edges of the cutouts 592 and the ring 590. Accordingly, portionsof the dimples 551 may intersect a rounded transition 594 between theapertured portion 534 of the first leg 518 and the ring 590. As shown inFIG. 23 , portions of the dimples 551 may intersect an incurvate surface593 of the rounded transition 594. As shown in FIG. 25 , portions of thedimples 551 may intersect an excurvate surface 595 of the roundedtransition 594.

As used in this patent application, the terminology “for example,” “forinstance,” “like,” “such as,” “comprising,” “having,” “including,” andthe like, when used with a listing of one or more elements, isopen-ended, meaning that the listing does not exclude additionalelements. Likewise, when preceding an element, the articles “a,” “an,”“the,” and “said” mean that there are one or more of the elements.Moreover, directional words such as front, rear, top, bottom, upper,lower, radial, circumferential, axial, lateral, longitudinal, vertical,horizontal, transverse, and/or the like are employed by way of exampleand not limitation. As used herein, the term “may” is an expedientmerely to indicate optionality, for instance, of an element, feature, orother thing, and cannot be reasonably construed as rendering indefiniteany disclosure herein. Other terms are to be interpreted and construedin the broadest reasonable manner in accordance with their ordinary andcustomary meaning in the art, unless the terms are used in a contextthat requires a different interpretation.

Finally, the present disclosure is not a definitive presentation of aninvention claimed in this patent application, but is merely apresentation of examples of illustrative embodiments of the claimedinvention. More specifically, the present disclosure sets forth one ormore examples that are not limitations on the scope of the claimedinvention or on terminology used in the accompanying claims, exceptwhere terminology is expressly defined herein. And although the presentdisclosure sets forth a limited number of examples, many other examplesmay exist now or are yet to be discovered and, thus, it is neitherintended nor possible to disclose all possible manifestations of theclaimed invention. In fact, various equivalents will become apparent toartisans of ordinary skill in view of the present disclosure and willfall within the spirit and broad scope of the accompanying claims.Features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to formfurther embodiments of the invention. Therefore, the claimed inventionis not limited to the particular examples of illustrative embodimentsdisclosed herein but, instead, is defined by the accompanying claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A retainer and nut assembly, comprising: aretainer, including a base wall, and first and second legs extendingaway from the base wall, wherein, the first leg has: a necked portionextending away from the base wall and having a first base, and a set offirst shoulders extending away from the base, and a first aperturedportion extending away from the set of first shoulders of the neckedportion, and the second leg has: a necked and stepped portion extendingaway from the base wall, and having a second base, a step extending awayfrom the second base, and a shouldered portion extending away from thestep and having a set of second shoulders extending laterally outwardly,and a second apertured portion extending away from the set of secondshoulders; and a nut separate from the retainer and coupled to thesecond apertured portion of the second leg of the retainer.
 2. Theretainer and nut assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein the first legalso has a hinged tab having a hinged portion, and a body extending fromthe hinged portion in a rearward direction and toward at least one ofthe base wall or the second leg over a distance that is more than halfway across a space between the apertured portions of the first andsecond legs and terminating in a free end.
 3. The retainer and nutassembly set forth in claim 2, wherein a distance between an inboardsurface of the hinged tab and an inboard surface of the aperturedportion of the second leg is less than a minimum thickness of a panel towhich the retainer is configured to be coupled, and a distance betweenan outboard surface of a projection of the hinged tab and an inboardsurface of the apertured portion of the first leg is less than a minimumthickness of the panel.
 4. The retainer and nut assembly set forth inclaim 1, wherein a ratio between a height of the base wall to a width ofthe base wall is between 0.62 and 0.92.
 5. The retainer and nut assemblyset forth in claim 1, wherein a ratio between a height of the base walland a height of a space between the apertured portions of the legs isbetween 1.4 and 2.0.
 6. The retainer and nut assembly set forth in claim1, wherein a ratio between a width of the base wall and a width of thefree ends of the legs is between 0.5 and 1.2.
 7. The retainer and nutassembly set forth in claim 1, wherein the second leg is humpbacked at arearward portion thereof.
 8. The retainer and nut assembly set forth inclaim 1, wherein the base wall has one or more slots therein.
 9. Theretainer and nut assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein at least onebend between the base wall and the legs has one or more slots therein.10. The retainer and nut assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein thefirst and second legs terminate in free ends established by tangs. 11.The retainer and nut assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein the secondbase is planar.
 12. The retainer and nut assembly set forth in claim 1,wherein the base wall is located at a rearward portion of the retainerand the first and second legs terminate at a forward portion of theretainer, wherein the first leg has a first fixed end at the base wall,and a first free end distal the first fixed end, wherein the neckedportion extends away from the first fixed end, wherein the firstapertured portion extends toward the first free end and has a firstoutboard surface, a first inboard surface, first laterally oppositesides extending between the first outboard and inboard surfaces, and afirst aperture being disposed between the first laterally opposite sidesand the first outboard and inboard surfaces, wherein the second leg hasa second fixed end at the base wall and a second free end distal thesecond fixed end, and the second base of the necked and stepped portionextends away from the second fixed end toward the second free end, andthe step of the necked and stepped portion extends in a forwarddirection and toward the first leg, and wherein the second aperturedportion extends toward the free end and has a second outboard surface, asecond inboard surface facing the first inboard surface, secondlaterally opposite sides extending between the second outboard andinboard surfaces, and a second aperture being disposed between thesecond laterally opposite sides and the second outboard and inboardsurfaces.
 13. The retainer and nut assembly set forth in claim 12, alsoincluding retainer axes including a longitudinal axis, a lateral axisperpendicular to the longitudinal axis, a transverse axis transverse tothe longitudinal and lateral axes, and a fastening axis perpendicular tothe longitudinal and lateral axes, wherein the base wall predominantlyextends along the transverse axis, wherein the first and second legspredominantly extend along the longitudinal axis, wherein the first baseextends away from the first fixed end and has straight lateral sides,wherein the set of first shoulders is straight-tapered at an anglebetween 40 and 50 degrees, wherein the first apertured portion iscoplanar with the necked portion, wherein the first aperture has atruncated teardrop shape with a teardrop-shaped portion and a truncatedportion between the teardrop-shaped portion and the first free end,wherein the first apertured portion also includes a hinged tab having ahinged portion connected to the truncated portion of the first aperture,and a body extending from the hinged portion in a rearward direction andtoward at least one of the base wall or the second leg over a distancethat is more than half way across a space between the apertured portionsof the first and second legs and terminating in a free end with aprojection extending back toward the first leg, and a tang terminatingin the first free end, wherein the second base has straight lateralsides, wherein the step of the necked and stepped portion has straightlateral sides disposed at an angle between 40 and 50 degrees, whereinthe set of second shoulders are straight-tapered at an angle between 40and 50 degrees, wherein the second inboard surface has an indentedportion, and wherein the second leg also has a flange extending awayfrom the second apertured portion in an outboard direction.
 14. Theretainer and nut assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein the nut is asquare nut.
 15. The retainer and nut assembly set forth in claim 1,wherein the nut is a round nut, having a collar, a free end bossextending from the collar, a fixed end boss extending from the collar ina direction opposite that of the free end boss, a circumferentiallyextending channel in an undersurface of the collar to accept theindented portion when the retainer is staked to the nut and radiallyextending ribs in the channel to cooperate with the indented portion toresist rotation of the nut with respect to the retainer.
 16. Theretainer and nut assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein, the first leghas a dimple array projecting from an inboard surface of the first leg,surrounding the aperture, and including a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced dimples, and the second leg has a second apertured portioncorresponding to the first apertured portion of the first leg.
 17. Theretainer of claim 16, wherein the dimples include four dimples, whereintwo of the four dimples are disposed on one side of a longitudinal axisof the retainer and another two of the four dimples are disposed onanother side of the longitudinal axis, such that the longitudinal axisdoes not intersect any one dimple.
 18. The retainer of claim 16, whereinthe dimples include rounded, shell-shaped bodies having excurvateinboard surfaces facing radially inwardly, and incurvate outboardsurfaces facing radially outwardly.
 19. The retainer of claim 16,wherein the first leg also has a ring extending away from an outboardsurface of the first apertured portion, and a cutout array surroundingthe aperture, corresponding to the dimple array, and including at leastthree cutouts corresponding to the at least three dimples.
 20. Aretainer and nut assembly, comprising: a retainer, including a base wallhaving a plurality of slots therein, and first and second legs extendingaway from the base wall, wherein, the first leg has: a necked portionextending away from the base wall and having a first base, and a set offirst shoulders extending away from the base, and a first aperturedportion extending away from the set of first shoulders of the neckedportion, and the second leg has: a necked and stepped portion extendingaway from the base wall, and having a second base, a step extending awayfrom the second base, and a shouldered portion extending away from thestep and having a set of second shoulders extending laterally outwardly,and a second apertured portion extending away from the set of secondshoulders; and a nut separate from the retainer and coupled to thesecond apertured portion of the second leg of the retainer.